Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Gae to the kye wi' me

Traditional

“Gae to the kye wi' me” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 119 1843 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Book of Scottish Song, edited by Alexander Whitelaw, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

"O gae to the kye wi' me, Johnnie,

Gae to the kye wi' me;

O gae to the kye wi' me, Johnnie,

And I'll be merry wi' thee."

"O lassie, I'm weary wand'rin',

I've gaen mair miles than three

I'se no gang the day to the herdin',

It's fashous and naething to see."

"O gae to the kye wi' me, Johnnie,

Gae to the kye wi' me;

O gae to the kye wi' me, Johnnie,

And I'll be merry wi' thee."

"Oh we'll tak' a rest at the shieling,

Anent the tap o' the hill,

And there's a loch o' pure water

Whare ye may drink your fill.

Oh gae, &c.

"Amang the rocks and the heather

A burn does roaring fa',

And there the trouties are loupin',

The bonniest ever I saw."

Oh gae, &c.

Credits

Written by Traditional

Traditional words. Historical text published in The Book of Scottish Song (1843); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Book of Scottish Song (1843), edited by Alexander Whitelaw, “Gae to the kye wi' me”

Every contribution in this 1843 anthology predates modern copyright terms by more than a century; any contributor died at least 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide (life+70 terms expired no later than 2020).

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-12. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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